Condensation products of aldehydes and urea derivatives



Patented Mar. Mel 942 A V UNITED .STATE Johnl'rankOiimGmmelle,

ICE

or animals EIIVATIYES osoignorto Mich, Sharpleoflhemicais Inc., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing.

' r 4 Claims.

The present invention pertains to chemical products formed by condensing urea derivatives with methylene-containing bodies, such as form- Application August as, is,

Serhl'No. 354,583

(01. sec-es aldehyde. This application is a continuation in part of my prior applications, Serial No. 164,525, died September 18, 1937, and Serial No. 316,315, filed January 30, 1940. Y

It is a well-known fact that urea may be reacted with formaldehyde to produce resinous condensation products. This reaction may be greatly accelerated by the use of small amounts of acids as catalysts, and it may also be accelerated with the aid of alkaline catalysts. The condensation reaction, ordinarily occurs intwo steps. In the first step, the urea reacts with formaldehyde to produce an initial reaction mixshapes. Their utility is limited, however, because of the fact that they are not ordinarily soluble 'in organic solvents or in water. Because of their relative insolubility, their utility in coating compositions is limited. The utility of resins formed by condensing unsubstituted urea with formaldehyde is also somewhat limited by the brittleness of these resinous condensation products, and by the tendency of the resin constituents to undergo further undesired reactions even after they 1 have been in use for a long time. These undesired reactions frequently result in the development'of cracks and fissures in the finished products.

In the case of condensation of most of the higher alkyl substituted ureas, such as monoand di-butyl urea, -amyl urea. -hexyl urea, -heptyl urea, etc., when these alkyl-substituted ureas are condensed with formaldehyde in accordance withthe method discussed above, the condensation takes place in two successive steps, just as in the case of the condensation reaction between unsubstituted urea and formaldehyde. When these higher alkyl ureas are reacted with'formaldehyde, however, the resulting condensation products are usually liquid, and in any case are softer than is desirable in connection with the uses to which urea-formaldehyde resins are orr dinarilyput. I

The present invention rests upon the discovery of the fact that. when cyclohexyl urea is condensed with formaldehyde or its equivalent, condensation products are produced which canbe hardened by heat, and have the necessary firmnew to permit their use in molding compositions and for various other purposes where a solid resin is desired. A further advantage of such products as compared to the simple urea-formaldehyde resins consists in the fact that compounds produced by condensing cyclohexyl urea with formaldehyde and hardening the resulting condensa- "tion products by heat are soluble in the ordinary aromatic hydrocarbons and other organic solvents such as alcohols. varnishes made from these resin have excellent air drying Properties.

As an alternative to the production of solid resins by heating the condensation products of cyclohexyl urea and formaldehyde; the heat treatment may be terminated while the resultin condensation product is still a viscous liquid. Viscous liquids produced in this manner are useful as plasticizers and adhesives, and liquid condensation products of thistype are therefore also included within the broad scope'oi the present invention. These liquid products have a tendency to harden slowly even under atmospheric conditions, and this fact makes them particularly valuable-in adhesive applications.

While a feature of the invention consists in the manufacture'of resins from cyclohexyl urea as the only urea constituent of the res'iniflcation reaction, resins formed by condensation of cyclohexyl urea with formaldehyde will be found to have higher melting points and increased hardness. in cases in which at least a certain small amount of unsubstituted urea is incorporated in the resiniflcation reaction mixture.

The following examples will assist those skilled in the art in the practice of the invention:

Example I 25 parts of cyclohexyl urea, 25 parts of aqueous formaldehyde, and one part of 93% acetic acid 7 Example II 37 parts of cyclohexyl urea were mixed with iii-parts oi aqueous formaldehyde solution and 3 parts of 93% acetic acid. The resulting mixture was dissolved in parts of isopropyl alcohol and heated until the temperature reached C. '1

. Example I.

parts of urea in aqueous solution were then added to the intermediate condensation product so obtained. and heating was continued until the temperature reached 140' C.

The resulting resin had a melting point of 74.0 C., and other characteristics similar to those of Example III I 6 parts of urea were mixed with 35 parts of aqueous formaldehyde, one part of 93% acetic product was a viscous liquid at 145 C.,.and when it was cooled to room temperature, it became a tacky semi-solid, with a melting point of 49 C. (by ring andball method). The product was characterized by thermo-plasticity, light color and stability. It was further characterized by infinite solubility in organic substances. such as aromatic hydrocarbons and alcohols, compatibility with alkyd resins and with other types. of

carbons and compatibility with drying oils, alkyd resins and nitro-cellulose. Air dried films of the resin were tough and semi-plastic.

' Example IV Two separate reaction mixtures were made up as follows:

. Parts Cyclohexyl urea 37 Aqueous formaldehyde 37 93% acetic acid a 1 Urea 15 aqueous formaldehyde 83 93% acetic acid 1 Mixture A was dissolved m 180 parts of 180+ propyl alcohol and heated until the temperature reached 100 C.

Mixture B was heated in the presence of 50 reached 100 C. Mixtures A and B were then combined and heated until the resulting resinoid was found to be soluble in aromatic hydrocar- The resin produced in this experiment hada melting point of 86.0 C." It was characterized by pale color, solubility in alcohols and aromatic hydrocarbons and compatibility with drying oils, alkyd resins and 'nit'ro-cellulose. Films of the resins dried in the atmosphere were semi-plastic.

Example V 5'7 parts of aqueous formaldehyde (37% concentration) were mixed -wit-h 3 parts of 93% acetic acid and heated until the temperature reached 98' C. 37 parts of cyclohexyl urea were .then gradually added, the mixture being stirred,

during this addition, and stirring being continued until a clear liquid was obtained. A small parts ofbutyl alcohol until the temperature amount of heat was applied to the mixture durresin. Air-dried films of the product were semiplastic.

- Example VI 57 parts of formaldehyde (37%) and 3 parts of acetic acid (93 were heated together to 98 C., and 37 parts of cyclohexyl urea were added in the same manner discussed in Example -V. 7 parts of an aqueous solution of urea were then added .to the intermediate condensation product. and the heating was continued until the temperature reached C. At this temperature, the condensation product was a viscous liquid. When cooled to room temperature it became a tacky semi-solid with a melting point of 68 C.

This resin was harder than that produced in Example V, but the characteristics of the resin were otherwise similar to those of the resin of Example V.

While the above discussion has not been applied specifically to thio-urea, I should like to point out that thin-urea derivatives having cyclohexyl substituents function very similarly to corresponding simple urea derivatives, in the practice of the present invention. The formation of resins and viscous liquid products by condensation of di-cyclohexyl ureawith methylenecontaining bodies is also within the broad scope of the invention.

Modifications will be obvious to those skilled in; the art, and I do not thereforewish to be limited except by the scope of the "sub-Joined claims.

I claim: 1. Products formed by condensing with formaldehyde amixture consistingof (1) a major proportion of a substance selected from the class consisting of cyclohexyl substitution products of 'urea and thio-urea and (2) a minor proportion tion of a substance selected from the class cone sisting of cyclohexyl substitution productsof urea and thio-urea and (2) a minor proportion of urea present in the condensation reaction in quantity sufllcient to impart hardness to the final 1 condensation product.

- .3. Process for preparing condensation products of urea and derivatives thereof with formaldehyde that comprises: condensing with formaldehyde both the substance urea and a: substance selected from the class consisting of cyclohexyl derivatives of urea and thio-urea, one of the substances being reacted initially with formaldehyde to form an intermediate condensation product that is further condensed with the other substance to yield a final condensation product of both substances with formaldehyde.

4. A condensation product prepared by the process set forth ,in claim 3.

' JOHN FRANK OLIN. 

